Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — April 2017 | Track & Field Notebook: Hawkeyes Host Musco Twilight XVIII
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa track and field team hosts the 18th annual Musco Twilight meet on Saturday, April 22. The Hawkeyes are joined by Creighton, Drake, Dubuque, Iowa Central CC, Iowa State , Loyola, University of Northern Iowa, Simpson, Wartburg, and Western Illinois. The one-day meet is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. (CT) with the men’s shot put. The meet will also serve as senior day with opening ceremonies and senior recognition being held at 4 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live results will be available through the team’s schedule page on hawkeyesports.com and at hawkeyesports.com/tracklive. Follow the team’s twitter account @iowaxc_tf for live updates of the meets.
PROMOTIONS
- The first 100 fans can pick up a free Musco Twilight t-shirt at the Marketing table in the grass behind the west grandstands.
- A Kids’ Zone with free and fun activities will be available in the grass behind the west grandstands from noon to 3:30 PM; activities include a mini hurdles course, a prize wheel, cornhole, and a rubber band bracelets station.
- Herky the Hawk will be on hand later in the day for the Herky’s Kids Race event, in addition to pictures and autographs.
PARKING
- Fans are encouraged to park in the Hawkeye Commuter Lot (Lot 85); fan parking will be available free of charge. Limited parking will be available in the Pearl Softball Field lot off of first Avenue.
- Complimentary shuttle service will run between the Hawkeye Commuter Lot and the Cretzmeyer Track Complex, with the first bus departing at 10 a.m., the second bus departing at noon and then running continuously through the event.
TICKETS
- All fans attending the Musco Twilight meet will require a ticket. Tickets are $5 for adults, youths ages 18 and under are free. Tickets must be purchased at the Cretzmeyer Track Complex on the day of the event. ONLY CASH will be accepted at this event.
BROWN’S BIG RACE BREAKS 200M RECORD…AGAIN
At the Mt. SAC Relays, junior Brittany Brown broke the Iowa school record in the 200 meters for the second straight weekend. She posted a personal best time of 22.69 seconds in the race to win her heat, defeating two former Olympians. Brown now ranks among the best in the world, placing the best time in the Big Ten, eighth best time in the NCAA, and 10th best time in the world. Brown broke the record for the second staight week after running 22.73 at the Jim Click Shootout.
DOUGHERTY DOMINATES DECATHLON RECORD
Junior Will Dougherty broke his own school record in the decathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 12-13. Dougherty posted personal bests in seven of the 10 events he competed in, including shot put (14.35 meters), 100 meters (11.04), 400 meters (49.85), high jump (1.96 meters), 110-meter hurdles (14.99), pole vault (4.50 meters), and javelin throw (52.26 meters). During the indoor season, Dougherty set a school record in the heptathlon, scoring 5,504 points at the Big Ten Championships. He has broken a school record in four of the past five multi-event competitions he has competed in dating back to last season.
RELAY WARRIORS
The Hawkeye relay teams have been some of the best and most consistent groups on the track and field team. The men’s 4×400 meter relay group set the school record twice in the indoor season and has set two top 10 times this outdoor season. The men have set eight top times in various relays in 2017. They rank first in the Big Ten in both the 4×100 meter relay (39.46) and 4×400 meter relay (3:03.78).
The women have put four relays in Iowa’s all-time top 10 in 2017 and have set the school record in the 4×200 meters with a time of 1:35.36. The women rank first in the Big Ten in the 4×100 meter relay (44.34) and second in the 4×400 meters (3:32.37).
OGWO’S FAST START
Freshman Emmanuel Ogwo is excelling in his first season on the UI track and field team. A former Hawkeye football player, Ogwo switched to track and has been one of Iowa’s best additions. Ogwo has competed in the 200 meters, 400 meters, 4×100 meter relay, and 4×400 meter relay. At the Mt. SAC Relays last weekend, Ogwo ran the anchor for Iowa and finished with a team-best 45.10 split. He also set an outdoor personal best in the 400 meters with a time of 46.46 to win his heat and finish sixth overall.
JAMES WINS TRIPLE JUMP TITLE
Senior Antwon James won his first event title as a member of the Hawkeyes at the Mt. SAC Relays last weekend. James, a transfer from Loyola, set a mark of 15.60 meters (51 feet, 2 1/4 inches). He ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
COUNTING CURRENT ALL-TIME HAWKEYES
The men have 23 current athletes in Iowa’s all-time top 10, led by Aaron Mallett (110-meter hurdles) and William Dougherty (Decathlon) who hold school records in their respective events. The women have 24 athletes in the top-10 and four school record holders on the roster in Briana Guillory (100 meters), Brittany Brown (200 meters), Marta Bote Gonzalez (3,000m Steeplechase), and Laulauga Tausaga (Discus).
TAUSAGA’S MONUMENTAL SEASON
Freshman Laulauga Tausaga continues to boast one of the best discus throws in the
country. Tausaga is eighth in the NCAA after her record-breaking performance at the Florida Relays, throwing 56.10 meters (184 – 1). Tausaga is second in the Big Ten and is the only freshman ranked in the top 15 in the NCAA.
MYLENEK ATOP STEEPLECHASE LEADERBOARD
Freshman Nathan Mylenek boasts one of the best times in the country in the men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase. Mylenek ran a career-best 9:56.93 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on March 31. He now ranks fourth in school history, 37th in the nation, and third in the Big Ten. He is one of six freshmen ranked in the top 40 in the NCAA.
BIG TEN LEADERS
Through two meets, the Hawkeyes have six Big Ten leaders.
- Sophomore Mar’yea Harris leads the 400-meter group with a time of 45.73.
- Junior Brittany Brown leads in two events – the 100 meters (11.43) and the 200 meters (22.69)
- The men’s 4×400 meter relay: freshman Emmanuel Ogwo, Harris, freshman Collin Hofacker, and junior Carter Lilly (3:03.78).
- The men’s 4×100 meter relay team of senior Aaron Mallet, junior O’Shea Wilson, Ogwo, and Harris (39.49).
- The women’s 4×100 meter relay: sophomore Taylor Chapman, sophomore Briana Guillory, senior Alexis Hernandez and junior Brittany Brown (44.34).
- Freshman Jenny Kimbro is first in the conference in the Heptathlon (5,121 points).
MUSCO TWILIGHT LEADERS
Iowa holds 11 meet records at the Musco Twilight meet. The records included are: 3,000 meters (McKenzie Melander, 9:21.59), men’s 4×100 meter relay (Vinnie Saucer, Aaron Mallett, James Harrington, Brendan Thompson, 39.66), women’s 4×100 meter relay (Charles, Williams, Providence, James, 45.27), 110 meter hurdles (Aaron Mallett, 13.69), men’s 1,500 meters (Jeff Thode, 3:44.51), women’s 1,500 meters (Meghan Armstrong, 4:21.86), women’s 400 meters (Shellene Williams, 53.02), women’s 200 meters (Shellene Williams, 23.50), women’s 100 meters (Briana Guillory, 11.35), men’s javelin throw (Bill Neumann, 72.62m) and men’s discus throw (Gabe Hull, 207 – 01).
UI director of track and field Joey Woody holds two Musco Twilight meet records in the 400 meter hurdles and the 4×400 meter relay running the anchor leg.
NCAA LEADERS
Iowa has four events and a relay ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA. Sophomore Mar’yea Harris is eighth in the nation in the 400 meters (45.73), junior Brittany Brown is eighth in the 200 meters (22.69), freshman Laulauga Tausaga is eighth in the discus throw (56.10m), sophomore Reno Tuufuli is seventh in the country (60.23m). The men’s 4×400 meter relay ranks sixth.
NEXT ON THE BLOCK
Iowa heads to the Drake Relays next week in Des Moines, Iowa. The annual event will begin on Wednesday with multi-event competition and conclude Saturday.
